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Latest crime headlines

The capital's police force said "detectives are working 24/7 to catch those responsible, using all resources available to them" as "any murder is one murder too many".

Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, responsible for Territorial Policing, said: "The Met continues to experience a very busy and challenging time against the backdrop of significant reductions in resources. I am very concerned about the rise in crime in the capital , particularly murder, violent crime and knife crime.

"My thoughts are with the victims' families of these tragic and horrific crimes which have brought untold misery to countless people."

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Assistant Commissioner Hewitt added: "We are strengthening local policing by bringing specialist officers closer to communities, and have increased the number of neighbourhoods officers dedicated to particular areas to engage with the public and work with them to keep them safe."

The latest statistics also reveal that knife crime has risen yet again, from 12,115 to 14,680 offences, knife crime with injury offences are up by 5.7% (4,446 to 4,700 offences) and assault with injury has risen from 50,836 to 51,110 crimes.

Police claim knife crime injuries to under-25s had "stabilised" but recorded offences have increased by another 3% - although this is a smaller rise compared to a 24% increase in the last figures.

A Violent Crime Taskforce has been put in place to tackle violent crime, weapon-enabled crime and serious criminality, according to Met Police.

Police comb the scene of a shooting in Southall (Image: UKNIP)

Increased and proper use of 'stop and search'

Officers will use a full range of tactics to identify, locate and confront street-level offenders, gangs and knife crime offenders. The new unit will be supported by borough officers, Trident and Area Crime Command and specialist units, as well as community partners.

Operation Sceptre will continue to target those people known to routinely carry knives through intelligence-led operations, the increased and proper use of 'stop and search', community weapons sweeps and targeting the shops and markets that sell knives to children.

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"There are now two Dedicated Ward Officers and a dedicated PCSO in each London ward and the addition of personal mobile technology will increase their capacity for community engagement," Assistant Commissioner Hewitt said.

"Additionally, there are 442 officers that can be allocated to priority wards as additional Dedicated Ward Officers, but still dedicated to neighbourhood policing.

"We also have officers working with schools on youth engagement and identifying young people most in need of support, intervention and diversion."

Police cordon off a Twickenham home at the centre of a murder investigation (Image: Get West London)

The assistant commissioner highlighted that the Met had made record gun seizures and reduced the number of young people who are being injured in knife attacks.

"However, in the context of the murders that have been committed in our communities, we can only view these as small successes," he added.

"We are upping our enforcements efforts and building on some of the work we have been already doing. We are putting more officers on the street and have launched the Violent Crime Taskforce.

Knives recovered during the last phase of Operation Sceptre (Image: Met Police)

"We are doubling our targeted anti-knife crime activity with hundreds more officers on visible patrols in affected communities. But despite our continued focus on reducing knife crime, prevention and diversion will always be key.

"There are complex social reasons why more young people are carrying knives and we have been absolutely clear that knife crime cannot be solved by the police alone. We also need the help and support of London's agencies and communities who we know are behind us.

"Despite the challenges that lay ahead, the Met will continue to focus on bringing offenders to justice, making the streets hostile territory for criminals, supporting victims and working closely with communities."